Sorting device



Oct. 10, 1944.. E. H. BIRDSALL SORTING DEVICE Filed Aug. 26, 1942 INV ENTOR I J Edwm H. BzrcZSaZZ AGENT Patented Oct. 10, 1944 SORTING DEVICE Edwin H. Birdsall, Golden, 0010., assignor to Remington Arms Company, Inc., Bridgeport, Conn, a corporation of Delaware Application August 26, 1942, Serial No. 456,196

8 Claims.

This invention relates in general to a separator for separating articles of different size and weight, and, particularly metallic tubular articles such as cartridge cases.

An object of the present invention is to provide a simple and improved apparatus for sepa-- rating articles of different lengths. A further object is to provide a cartridge case trimming machine with an inclined chute having deflecting means for separating overlong cases from cases of normal length. A still further object is to provide a cartridge case separating apparatus with means for removing scrap rings from the cases.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more fully disclosed in the following description.

In the production of cartridge cases, particularly .30 and .50 caliber cases, the case is formed from a blank or disk of suitable material, such as brass, by a series of drawings and heat treatments which shape the disk in the form of a cylindrical tube having a closed end or base. Thereafter, the cases are trimmed to substantially the same overall length by means of a trimming machine such as illustrated and described in th application of M. L. Sappenfield, Serial No. 435,199, filed March 18, 1942.

Characteristic features of these trimming machines are a spindle for rotatably supporting the case, a feed plunger reciprocable in axial alignment with the spindle for delivering a case onto the spindle, and a cutter at a fixed distance from the end of the spindle for trimming off cases to a uniform length. The trimming which is removed from the case is a relatively small, light weight, springy, metallic ferrule commonly called a scrap ring.

After the case has been trimmed, a suitable stripper pushes the case and scrap ring off of the spindle, suitable means being used to separate the scrap ring from the trimmed cases. One such separating means is an air blast directed against the scrap ring as it leaves the spindle. Approximately 94% of the rings are deflected and separated from the cases by the air blast, a substantial part of the remaining 6% being carried over into the receptacles for the trimmed cases.

It has been found that the cases which are discharged from the trimming spindle are not all of uniform length. This circumstance is believed to be due to certain mouth deformities or foreign matter in the case or due to the lazy action of the feed plunger, which plunger is necessarily spring actuated. As a result, overlong cases are produced which cause consider able trouble and delay in subsequent case processing machines, as, for instance, in the case pocketing machines.

Overlong cases have been found to stick in the feed chutes of these machines requiring the operator to shut down the machine and manually dislodge the jammed case. Production time is thus lost and the case itself is generally deformed and must be scrapped. It is imperative, therefore, to separate the overlong cases from the cases of normal length before they are fed into case pocketing or heading machines.

The present invention, as illustrated in the embodiment shown and described herewith, provides improved means for separating overlong cases from cases of normal length.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a cartridge case trimming machine and case separating apparatus associated therewith.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the case separating apparatus.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the chute showing one of the deflector plates and the separating wall.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan View on line 5-4 of Fi 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the trough showing the scrap ring separating means.

Referring to Fig. 1, the case I0 to be trimmed is shown telescoped onto the free end of the rotating spindle H of the trimming machine, the space l2 between the end of the spindle H and the base of the case I0 being indicative of a deformity or foreign matter in the case or of the lazy action of the feed plunger 13.

As a result, the case is not all the way on the spindle and will, therefore, be overlong when trimmed by the cutter M. The scrap ring is indicated as the portion l5 of the case Ill. Both the ring and case are stripped off of the spindle by a suitable stripper It. An air blast nozzle for separating the rings and trimmed cases is shown at ll and is adapted to blow the rings down into the receptacle [8 while the heavier cases carry across a partition or wall it and slide down a chute 2!] to the separating means from which they are discharged into receptacles. These receptacles, one of which is indicated at 2 l, are located on each side of a separating Wall 22 and are adapted to receive, respectively, the overlong cases and cases of normal length. Any scrap rings which may have escaped the air b ast and fallen into the chute 29 are adapted The trough is shown inclined at a suflicient angle to permit the cases to slide freely down the chute.

Since the minimum rate at which cases are de livered from the trimming machine issubstantially 120 cases per minute, it is desirable to arrange the trough at an inclination which will maintain a rate of flight of at least 120 cases per minute. It will be understood, however, that the inclination of the trough may be decreased or in-.

creased within reasonable limits, and, in practice, the trough has been elevated sufliciently to successfully separate cases to within 0.005 inch limit at the rate of 200 cases per minute.

The base or frame for supporting the inclined trough is indicated at 25 and may be a part of the trimming machine frame or an auxiliary frame constructed conveniently of strap iron, or any other suitable material.

Opposite the lower end of the trough is positioned one element of the separating means which comprists a deflector plate 26 which the cases strike when plunging-over the lower end 21 of the trough. The deflector or target plate 26 is substantially rectangular and provided with a polished surface 28. The plate may be supported conveniently on the frame 25 and is arranged with its polished surface in a transverse plane at substantially right angles to the longitudinal axis of the chute and inclined from the vertical at a suitable angle with respect to th trough.

In the embodiment shown in the drawing, the plate is inclined at an angle of substantially 75 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the trough 20, but it will be understood, that this angle may be varied within limits depending upon such factors as the type of trough being used, the inclination of the trough and the size and weight of the cases.

The distance measured from the 'lower end or edge 27 of the trough to the point of impact of a case with the polished surface of the plate is indicated as being such that, when the head of a case being delivered from the trough contacts the plate, the center of gravity (C. G.) of the case is beyond the edge 2'! of the trough whereby the case will be tipped downwardly by the force of gravity and drop out of the chute, the lower end 21 of the chute constituting a fulcrum point for the rotation of the case. As demonstrated by the present embodiment, the center of gravity of .30 caliber cases should be substantially one and three-eighths inches beyond the lower edge of the chute for optimum results.

The forc of gravity tending to displace the case downwardly is further augmented by the forces which are setup when the case strikes the polished surface 28 of the target plate 26, the inclination of the latter being such that the component forces of impact cause the case to ricochet from the target rather than to rebound. Th disposition of the target plate with respect to the lower end of the chute, as described above, thus speeds the action and insures improved accuracy of separation. Suitable buffer means, for steadying the flight of the cases on impact with the target is indicated at 29 and may comprise a rubber tube or other resilient material suitably secured across the upper edge of the plate.

An additional element of the case separating means is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and comprises a cam surface or second deflector plate 30 secured to on wall of the trough 20 by a weld or solder joint and extending outwardly from the wall at a suitable angle. As illustrated, the deflector is in a plane substantially parallel to the opposite wall of the trough. Thus, for a right angle trough 20, the cam plate 30 would project substantially perpendicularly from the wall of the trough to which it was secured.

The underside of the cam plate is provided with a polished surface 3| (see Fig. 3) and the sid of the cam plate nearest the lower end of the trough is dressed off with sharp square edges 32. Although the cam plate may be secured to the wall of the trough at an approximate predetermined distance from the lower end of the trough, the square edges 32 of the cam plate must be accurately distanced from the impact point of the target plate, this distance (1) being substantially equal to the length of a normal cartridge case H] as indicated in Fig. 2.

Thus, when a case of normal length strikes the target plate and begins to rotate about the edge 21, its rear or upper end swings upwardly, just clearing the sharp edges 32 of the cam plate 36 and permitting the case to fall straight down out of the chute 20 and into a suitable receptacle 33 positioned immediately below the lower end of the chute. However, when an overlong case begins to rotate about the fulcrum point 21, its rear end engages with the polished surface 3| of the cam plate 30 which, being laterally inclined with respect to the vertical plane in which the case begins to tilt, deflects the rear end of th overlong case laterally or to the right as seen in Fig. 4, thereby swinging th lower forward end and the center of gravity of the case to the left. The case will, therefore, fall a certain distance, say one half inch to the left of the substantially vertical path taken by the normal case.

Referring to Fig. 3, the separating wall 22 is provided adjacent the lower end of the chute between it and the target plate. The wall may be supported conveniently on the frame and is positioned with respect to a vertical plane through the longitudinal axis of the trough so as to stand between the paths of flight taken by the respective normal and overlong cases being discharged from the chute.

In one embodiment of the invention, the top of the separating wall 22 is positioned substantially one and one quarter to one and one half inches below the bottom of that part of a case in delivery position which is immediately above the lower end of the trough 20, and is displaced laterally or to the left as seen in Fig. 3 in a plane substantially three-eighths of an inch from and parallel to the vertical plane through the longitudinal axis of the trough. The wall 22 thus permits the normal cases to fall straight down and the overlong cases will be thrown to the oppositeside of the wall and kept separated from the normal cases. The receptacles 2| and 33 are provided on opposite sides of the wall 22 to receive the respective cases.

Associated with the chute 20 are auxiliary scrap ring separating means for removing those few rings l5 which get by the air blast of the trimming machine and are projected into the separating trough.

In the embodiment shown in 'Fig. '5, the ring separating means comprises the aperture 23 in the bottom of the trough substantially midway of its length, the aperture being short enough to be bridged by a normal cartridge case, but long enough so that the scrap rings may easily drop through it.

To insure the discharge of rings through the aperture, suitable deflecting means are provided comprising a T-shaped wire member, the transverse element 35 thereof being pivotally supported in suitable bearings 36 in the opposite walls or edges of the trough 20 transversely to the longitudinal axis thereof and immediately adjacent the forward edge of the aperture 23.

The vertical element 31 of the T-shaped member constitutes a stop or finger which depends substantially vertically into the trough in the line of flight of the cases and scrap rings. The finger, being relatively light, is free to swing forwardly and permit the unrestricted passage of the heavy cases, but provides sufficient resistance to the light springy scrap rings I to effectively stop the rings and cause them to fall through the aperture 23.

It will be understood that the embodiment shown and described represents a desirable form of the invention for accomplishing the objects stated, but that this embodiment is only for the purpose of illustrating the invention and is not limiting thereof as other modifications may be made without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for separating articles comprising an inclined chute; an article deflecting surface positioned facing the lower end of said chute, said surface being arranged transversely to the path of the articles discharged from said chute and at an angle of substantially ninety degrees thereto; a second article deflecting surface supported on one wall of said chute and parallel to the plane of the opposite wall, said second deflecting surface having an edge spaced from said first deflecting surface whereby articles of different lengths leaving the lower end of the chute are deflected in separate and distinct paths; and a wall separating said paths, said wall being positioned in laterally displaced relation to the line of flight of the articles in the chute.

2. In an apparatus for separating articles, the combination with an inclined chute having an aperture in the bottom thereof in the line of flight of articles moving down the chute; of article separating means comprising article stop means positioned adjacent the forward edge of said aperture, said stop means including a finger pivotally supported on said chute in the path of articles moving down the chute whereby said finger deflects articles of lesser weight backwardly into said aperture and permits unrestricted movement of articles of greater weight; an article deflecting surface positioned facing the lower end of the chute in the path of and at right angles to the line of flight of the articles in the chute; a second article deflecting surface supported on one Wall of said chute and parallel to the plane of the opposite wall of the chute, said second deflecting surface having a lower edge spaced at a predetermined distance from said first deflecting surface corresponding to the length of a normal article whereby the articles of greater weight but of overlong length leaving the lower end of the chute are deflected from the path of articles of normal length; and a wall separating said paths.

3. An apparatus for separating. articles comprising an inclined article supporting chute; an

inclined surface positioned opposite the lowerend of said chute in the path of articles moving down said chute to rotate an article about'the lower-end of said chute in the vertical plane of the article path; and an article camming surface positioned in said chute adjacent said lower end at a predetermined distance from said inclined surface so that articles of normal length being rotated about said lower end by engagement with said inclined surface just clear said camming surface whereas-overlong articles engage said camming surface and are deflected thereby out ofthe vertical plane of said article path.

4. An apparatus for separating articles comprising an article supporting chute, an article deflecting surface facing one end of said chute in the path of articles being discharged from said chute to deflect articles therefrom in the vertical plane of said article path; and an article deflecting surface mounted in said chute at an angle to the vertical plane of said path, the lower end of the angularly disposed deflecting surface being spaced at a predetermined distance from the first deflecting surface corresponding to the length of a normal article whereby overlong articles being deflected out of the chute by the first deflecting surface engage the lower end of the angularly disposed deflecting surface and are thereby deflected into a path offset from the path of articles of normal length.

5. An apparatus for separating. articles comprising an article supporting chute, an article deflecting surface facing one end of said chute in the path of articles being discharged from said chute to deflect articles therefrom in the vertical plane of said article path; an article deflecting surface mounted in said chute at an angle to the vertical plane of said path, the lower end of the angularly disposed deflecting surface being spaced at a predetermined distance from the first deflecting surface corresponding to the length of a normal article whereby overlong articles being deflected out of the chute by the first deflecting surface engage the lower end of the angularly disposed deflecting surface and are thereby deflected into a path offset from the path of articles of normal length; and article receiving means positioned respectively in the path of normal articles and in the offset path of the overlong articles.

6. An apparatus for separating articles comprising an article supporting chute, an article deflecting surface facing one end of said chute in the path of articles being discharged from said chute; an article buffer on said deflecting surface; and an article deflecting surface supported by said chute at an angle to the vertical plane of the article path, said second deflecting surface hav'ng a lower end constructed and arranged in cooperative relationship with the first deflecting surface so as to be engaged by the rear ends of articles of overlong length leaving the chute, said articles being deflected thereby into a path offset from the path of articles of normal length.

7, In an apparatus for separating articles of various weights and lengths, the combination with an article supporting chute having an aperture in the line of flight of articles moving along the chute; of article separating means comprising an article engaging member adjacent one end of said aperture to deflect articles of substandard weight into said aperture; an article deflecting surface facing one end of said chute in the path of articles of standard weight being discharged from the chute to deflect said articles in the vertical plane of said path; and an article deflecting surface mounted in said chute at an angle to the vertical plane of said path, said second surface having a lower end spaced at a predetermined distance from said first deflecting surface corresponding to the length of a normal article whereby the articles of standard weight but of abnormal length leaving the chute engage the lower end of said angularly disposed deflecting surface and are thereby deflected into a path offset from the path of articles of normal length.

8. In an apparatus for separating articles of Various weights and lengths, the combination with an article supporting chute having an aperture in the line of flight of articles moving along the chute; of article separating means comprising an article engaging member adjacent one end of said aperture to deflect articles of substandard weight into said aperture; an article deflect ing surface facing one end of said chute in the path of articles of standard Weight being discharged from the chute to deflect said articles in the vertical plane of said path; and an article deflecting surface extending substantially perpendicularly from one wall of said chute and at an angle to the vertical plane of said path, said second surface having a lower end spaced at a predetermined distance from said first deflecting surface corresponding to the length of a normal article whereby the rear ends of articles of standard weight but of abnormal length leaving the chute engage the lower end of said angularly disposed deflecting surface and are thereby deflected into a path offset from the path of articles of normal length; and a wall separating the respective paths, said wall being in laterally displaced relation to the line of flight of the articles in the chute.

' EDWIN H. BIRDSALL. 

